In January of 1998, the State Sports Commission of China officially recognized Mahjong and designating it as the 255th sport. The Official International Rules for this newest sport were defined in September of the same year.

The number of hands designated in these rules is 81. Each hand, depending upon its difficulty, has scores from 1 to 88 points. The points for each hand are added together in a simple sum. In the ChineseOfficial version, minimum of 8 points are needed to declare mahjong. For example, one adds 6 points from all pungs to 2 Points for a Dragon Pung to get at least an 8 points hand. Please note that the flower tiles are counted apart from the 8 point minimum. Points for flowers are simply added to the final score after declaring mahjong. Dealer does not receive additional payment when winning, nor repeat his or her seat. No Dead Tiles will be designated. The play continues until the last tile has been used.

Here is some basic scoring:

4 Pungs in a hand - 6 points

4 Chows in a hand - 2 points

1 Dragon Pung or Kong - 2 points

A pair of Dragon Pung - 6 points

Pung/Kong of Winds that matches the round or seat - 2 points

Flowers/Seasons tile - 1 point each

Win by self-drawn - 1 point

Mahjong Hand Requirement - Minimum Points

Below is the list of hands and their point values:

1 POINT HANDS – Total of 13 Hands

The basic Mahjong set has 136 pieces, which contains 36 distinct kinds of pieces (4 of each kind). There are three suits, which run from one to nine.

1.

Pure Double Chow

Two runs of the same suit and same numerical sequence.

2.

Mixed Double Chow

Two runs, one in each of two suits, of the same numerical sequence.

3.

Short Straight

Two Chows in the same suit that run consecutively after one another (ex: 3-4-5 + 6-7-8 of bamboos)

* Another Two Terminal Chows ( 1,2,3-characters 7,8,9-characters ) are not counted because these chows have already been used.

5.

Pung of Terminals or Honors

Each Pung of 1. 9. or Honor tiles scores 1 point.

6.

Melded Kong

A Kong that was claimed from another player or promoted from a melded Pung

7.

One Voided Suit

A hand that lacks tiles from one of the three suits (either Characters, Dots, or bamboos).

8.

No Honors

A hand formed entirely of suit tiles.

9.

Edge Wait

Waiting for a 3 or 7 when holding 1-2 or 8-9, respectively. This hand is invalid when the edge wait is combined with any other waits. Combinations which do not add to the variety of tiles are acceptable (such as 1-2-3-3, which is a combination of an edge wait and a single wait, but only a 3 tile completes the hand).

10.

Closed Wait

Going out on a closed wait (for example, holding 2-4 and waiting on 3). This hand is invalid when the closed wait is combined with other waits (for example, the combination wait 2-4-4-4 counts for neither Single Wait nor Closed Wait). Combinations which do not add to the variety of tiles are acceptable (such as 1-2-2-3-4, which is a combination of a closed wail and an edge wait, but only a 3 tile completes the hand).

11.

Single Wait

Going out on a single wait (finishing a head). This hand is invalid if the wait is any type of combination wait (as in 1-2-3-4 waiting on the 1 and 4). Combinations which do not add to the variety of tiles being waited on are acceptable (such as 4-5-5-6. which is a combination of a single wait and a closed wait, but only a 5 tile completes the hand).

12.

Self-drawn

Going out with a tile drawn from the wall.

13.

Flower Tiles

Each flower tile is worth 1 point. When a flower tile is drawn, set it to the side and draw a replacement tile. If the player goes out off this replacement tile, then Self-drawn (1 point) is added to the hand.